About CalHR

Overview of CalHR

The California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) was created on July 1, 2012, by Governor Brown's Reorganization Plan Number 1 of 2011. The reorganization plan consolidated the State of California's two personnel departments, combining the Department of Personnel Administration with certain programs of the State Personnel Board.

CalHR is responsible for all issues related to employee salaries and benefits, job classifications, civil rights, training, exams, recruitment and retention. For most employees, many of these matters are determined through the collective bargaining process managed by CalHR.

CalHR Programs and Divisions

Benefits

Administers dental, vision, the Employee Assistance Program, workers' compensation and other benefits to state employees; and partners with the California Public Employees Retirement System to administer health benefits.

Civil Rights

Provides leadership and guidance to departments to protect the civil rights of all state employees.

Labor Relations

Represents the Governor as the "employer" in issues involving employer-employee relations, including collective bargaining pursuant to the Ralph C. Dills Act.

Legal Division

The Legal Division provides the same full range of legal services that a private law office specializing in labor relations and employment law would provide to government clients. It represents the Governor and state departments in various judicial, administrative, and arbitral forums. Under its
House Counsel Program, the division offers cost effective consultation, customized training, investigations, mentoring to assist with succession planning, and experienced guidance with complex personnel issues.

Personnel Management

Savings Plus

Administers the state employees' 401(k) and 457 programs and the part-time, seasonal and temporary and Alternate Retirement programs.

Selection

Creates and administers civil service exams providing a fair and open process to hire the most qualified candidates to serve the state.

Workforce Development Programs and Special Projects

Responsible for statewide training and ensuring the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce.

​State Leadership Accountability Act (SLAA)

Government Code sections 13400 through 13407, known as the State Leadership Accountability Act (SLAA), was enacted to reduce the waste of resources and strengthen internal control. SLAA requires each state agency to maintain effective systems of internal control, to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of these controls on an ongoing basis, and to biennially report on the adequacy of the agency's systems of internal control. To learn more about CalHR's efforts, read CalHR's SLAA Report.

May 10, 2011: Governor Brown announces Governor's Reorganization Plan Number 1, consolidating the Department of Personnel Administration and most functions of SPB into one department, CalHR, and submits his plan to Little Hoover Commission.

2005: California Performance Review Report recommends consolidating the Department of Personnel Administration and the non-constitutionally mandated functions and staff of the State Personnel Board into a single entity.

1984: Responsibility for allocating positions passes from the State Personnel Board to the Department of Personnel Administration through a Governor's reorganization act.

1981: A Governor's reorganization act creates the Department of Personnel Administration to administer those aspects of the State personnel system that had become subject to collective bargaining under the Ralph C. Dills Act. Prior to DPA's creation, the State Personnel Board was the sole personnel agency in the executive branch.

1934: The State Personnel Board was constitutionally created to administer the civil service system and ensure that state employment is based on merit and free of political patronage.